Indianapolis Colts' Josh McNary Charged With Rape

Indianapolis Colts linebacker Josh McNary was charged with rape as his team heads into a conference championship game at the end of a season in which the National Football League has come under criticism for its response to domestic violence.

McNary also faces charges of criminal confinement and battery resulting in bodily injury, according to a court filing provided today by prosecutors in Marion County, Indiana.

The 29-year-old woman who made the accusations, whose name was blacked out in the filing, said the incident occurred Dec.1 at an apartment after a late night at Tiki’s Bar in Indianapolis. She said she and her attacker had a fight in which she was forcibly raped, according to the filing. She then left with his smartphone, and later called police from her apartment. She told a forensic nurse she took Snapchat videos, one of which she believed contained footage of the suspect.

McNary was arrested this evening and the next step will be an initial court hearing, Peg McLeish, a spokeswoman for the prosecutors’ office, said in an e-mail.

Edward Schrager, a lawyer identified in the court filing as representing McNary, didn’t immediately respond after regular business hours to a phone call seeking comment.

Avis Roper, a media representative for the Colts, wasn’t immediately available for comment after regular business hours.

The Colts are scheduled to visit the New England Patriots for the American Football Conference championship game in four days. The winner of the Jan. 18 matchup at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts, advances to the Feb. 1 Super Bowl, where it will face the Green Bay Packers or the Seattle Seahawks.

“I do not know what the circumstances will be regarding Sunday’s game,” McLeish said. “There are often travel restrictions when a defendant is released on bond. If that is not a factor in this case, it will be up to the Colts to determine his activities with the team.”

In two seasons with the Colts, McNary, who is 6-feet tall and 251 pounds, has totaled 30 tackles and 24 assists. In 15 appearances in the 2014 season, including four starts, the 26- year-old linebacker had 16 tackles, 13 assists and half a sack.

McNary led Army in sacks in 2009 and 2010 and is the Black Knights’ career leader with 28 quarterback sacks and 49 tackles for loss, according to the school’s website. In his final game for Army, in 2010, he returned a fumble 55 yards for a touchdown in a 16-14 victory against Southern Methodist University in the Armed Forces Bowl.

Indianapolis Colts linebacker Josh McNary was charged with rape as his team heads into a conference championship game at the end of a season in which the National Football League has come under criticism for its response to domestic violence.McNary also faces charges of...